Cohoon authors ‘Geologic Road Guide to Scenic 7 Byway’Copies of a new publication authored by the longest-serving faculty member in Arkansas Tech University history are now available. Dr. Richard Cohoon’s “Geologic Road Guide to Scenic 7 Byway” is a booklet that was made possible in part through a faculty research grant from Arkansas Tech and services from the Arkansas Geological Survey. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and interested members of the community are invited to pick up one of a limit...

News Briefs (Jan. 16, 2014)PCEC meeting today Pope County Election Commissioners will meet at 1:30 p.m. today instead of 10:30 a.m. at the Pope County Election Headquarters, 1509 E. Main St., Suite 7 in Russellville, (479) 280-1905. American Legion country singing The American Legion sponsors country singing every Thursday and will host Classic Country today. The singing will begin at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hut across from the depot. Dardanelle Class of 1964 meet...

Bridging the Gap Parade set SaturdayThe annual Pink Rose Bridging the Gap Parade will be conducted Saturday as part of a number of community events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. The event, hosted by the Pink Rose Arts and Civics Federated Club, will begin with a brief worship service at 9:30 a.m. at the New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, located at 316 S. Houston Place. “Everyone in the River Valley community is invited to come to the program and the parade,” club repr...

MSR announces Building Rehab Grant ProgramMain Street Russellville has announced the opening of the application period for its Building Rehabilitation Grant Program beginning today and ending at close of business on Feb. 28. The Building Rehabilitation Grant Program was developed as an incentive to encourage investors and owners of property within the designated Main Street District—Parkway Drive on the north, Third St. on the south, El Paso Avenue on the west, and Boston Avenue on th...

News Briefs (Jan. 15, 2014)Community invited to MLK Jr. Day Arkansas Tech University will host a series of events on Monday to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014. Activities will include a campus clean-up beginning at 10 a.m. at Hindsman Tower, a unity march beginning at 1 p.m. between the Doc Bryan Student Services Center and Tucker Coliseum and a vigil service at 6:30 p.m. in the W.O.Young Building Ballroom. The events are sponsored by the Arkansas Tech Afric...

News Briefs (Jan. 14, 2014)Might Night 2.0 to feature soccer Might Night 2.0 will feature soccer from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday at London Elementary . The door prizes for this Might Night will be cook books donated by the Vintage book store. This event is free and open to all kids and their families. For more information contact Bodhi Lovely, Youth Advisory Board Member for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, call (479) 890-4575 or email bodhiql@gmail.com. Cattlemen ...

Yell County jail election todayDANVILLE — Today is Election Day in Yell County for the special election in which county officials have asked residents to approve a 1-cent sales tax to fund a new jail facility. When they arrive at the polls, voters will be asked to approve or deny two items. The first is a temporary 3/4-cent sales tax for construction of the jail facility in Danville. The construction will be funded via a 20-year bond. The second item on the ballot will be a...

Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball set for Feb. 22The Junior Auxiliary (JA) of Russellville will host its 2014 Charity Ball on Feb. 22 at the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club in Russellville. This year’s theme is “A Night with Gatsby.” Tickets are $70 per person or $130 per couple. JA is a national nonprofit organization that represents “an endeavor on the part of women to be active and constructive community participants and to render charitable services which are beneficial to the genera...

MLK celebration set for SaturdayThe 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration will take place Saturday at the Hughes Community Center. The free event, hosted by the River Valley Progressive Men’s Club (RVPMC), is open to all and is intended to stimulate awareness of King in the community. “We try to make the program a celebration, a recognition of Dr. King’s principles,” Rick Colclough said. Edmond Davis, a public speaker and historian, will speak on the theme ...

News Briefs (Jan. 12, 2014)Special Olympics fundraiser Wednesday The Russellville Board of Realtors’ fundraiser for Special Olympics Arkansas will be conducted from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Firehouse Subs in Russellville. PCEC to meet Thursday The Pope County Election Commission will meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday to discuss several agenda items including the Feb. 11 Dover School Board Special Election. Logic and accuracy testing of all the equipment to be used during the Feb...

Local woman publishes bookA Yell County woman has published her first young adult fantasy novel about a character she created when she was a child. Kristine Abrams, pen name Kristine Cali, 25, started writing as soon as she learned the alphabet. She wrote her first book, "The Easter Story," at age 7, with a little help. "I had to ask my mom how to spell jelly bean," she said. The star of her novel, "Wispin," is Casey Welch — a character who got her last name from a pea...

News Briefs (Jan. 11, 2014)Tea Party Two meeting Jan. 20 There will be a meeting of the Tea Party Two at the Pope County Courthouse at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20. Anyone from Pope, Conway, Johnson, and Yell counties are invited to attend. For more information call Larry Pettus (479) 858-8045. ANRC wants operators to register for PFO’s The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) and the Pope County Conservation District wants to remind all owners of Poultry Feeding Operation...

RAEC prepares for new GED testingThe Russellville Adult Education Center (RAEC) is finalizing preparations for the new 2014 General Education Development (GED) testing and scholarship procedures. RAEC became an official Pearson Vue Certified Testing Center before the Christmas break. In the past few weeks, the center finished converting one of its classrooms to a testing room. "The Russellville [technology] department worked with Pearson Vue to install everything," RAEC Direc...

Dardanelle Chamber names new directorDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle Chamber of Commerce appointed a new executive director last month. The Chamber named Tanya Hendrix its executive director on Dec. 10. Hendrix, 49, found out about the appointment as she and her sister were about to leave on a birthday trip to London, England. "I was very pleased when I got the news," Hendrix said. Hendrix is a Russellville native who graduated Russellville High School in 1983. She has been a Dardane...

RPD offers fresh start for new yearTo help get 2014 off to a positive start, the Russellville Police Department is offering amnesty on misdemeanor warrants through the end of the month. “What we’re trying to do is give people a fresh start for the new year,” Warrants Officer Aaron Taylor said. People with nonviolent misdemeanor warrants can come to the police department to be served with their warrants and given a court date. Taylor said amnesty is only available to those who v...

Icy precipitation slides through the stateIcy precipitation that moved through the state Wednesday and into Thursday left a slippery mess in its wake. Schools throughout the Arkansas River Valley dismissed early on Wednesday and remained closed through Thursday. By early Wednesday afternoon, cars were sliding on slick roadways, and a Dover school bus flipped on its side with seven children aboard. No injuries were reported from that incident. Arkansas State Police Lt. Kyle Drown said ...

News Briefs (Jan. 10, 2014)Pope County grants open to nonprofits Nonprofits in Pope County can go to arcf.org beginning today to download an application for Giving Tree Grants through Pope County Community Foundation, an affiliate of Arkansas Community Foundation. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 15. Any IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, public school, government agency or hospital in Pope County is eligible to apply. Other applicants may be considered if the project ...

Church Briefs (Jan. 10, 2014)Program to address Catholic doctrines The program “What Catholics Really Believe” addresses the misunderstandings many people have about Catholic doctrines and teachings. It will be sponsored by St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1001 N. 2nd Street in Dardanelle. The program consists of 13 sessions lasting approximately one hour each. Each session will be presented twice each week beginning at 9:30 a.m. Sunday and again on Monday at 6:30 p.m. All ...

Bill assistance availableThe Arkansas River Valley has seen some of the lowest temperatures in decades over the past couple of weeks, making it more important than ever for residents to have working heat and electricity. People who have trouble paying their bills can rest assured that help is available. Julie Munsell, Entergy Arkansas spokesperson, said Entergy partners with several local agencies to provide assistance and adheres to the state’s policy on shut-offs. “...

News Briefs (Jan. 9, 2014)NKR adoption event Saturday NKR (No Kill Russellville) will conduct an adoption event from 9-3 p.m. Saturday at Tractor Supply Co. (320 N. Hampton Ave., across from Lowe’s). Everyone is welcome to show support for local efforts to transform the Russellville Animal Shelter into a no-kill facility. Birdhouse building offered Saturday “Winter at the lake” at Lake Dardanelle State Park will take place Saturday. Among other activities, Build-a-bird...